India’s higher education moment has arrived just as the world turns inward

For years, leaving India after school was seen as the clearest route to a better education and a global career. A foreign university offered academic prestige, international exposure and the possibility of building a life overseas.

That promise has become harder to secure. Education costs have risen, currencies have weakened and governments in major destinations are tightening visa and immigration rules. Geopolitical tensions have added another layer of uncertainty to a decision that already requires a large financial commitment.

India’s universities are entering this moment with greater confidence. A small group of institutions is gaining ground in global rankings, strengthening research output and performing better in fields such as engineering, science, technology and management. Foreign universities are also beginning to establish a presence in India.


This creates an unusual opening for Indian higher education. As the overseas route becomes more expensive and less predictable, India is becoming a more credible place to begin the journey.

The exit queue gets shorter

The number of Indians travelling abroad for education fell from 908,364 in 2023 to 770,127 in 2024 and 626,606 in 2025, according to data from the Bureau of Immigration provided to Parliament.

The figures count Indians who declared “study” or “education” as their purpose of travel. They are not the same as confirmed university enrolments, but they show a clear decline in education-related departures.

The fall has come as students and their families face higher tuition and living costs, a weaker rupee and greater uncertainty over visas and post-study work opportunities.

Canada introduced a national cap on study-permit applications in 2024. The Canadian government said the policy was intended to stabilise the number of international students, with the capped group expected to see a 28% reduction compared with 2023.

The UK has also reduced the length of its Graduate visa. Applications made by December 31, 2026 allow graduates to stay for two years. Applications made from January 1, 2027 will allow an 18-month stay, except for doctoral graduates, who remain eligible for a three-year visa.

In the US, F, M and J visa applicants are already subject to online presence review. The US Department of State has also expanded online screening and instructed applicants in several visa categories to make their social media profiles public.

The rankings finally catch up

The strongest evidence of India’s higher-education rise comes from the growing number of institutions appearing in global rankings and the improved performance of several leading institutions.

The QS World University Rankings included 54 Indian institutions in 2026, the country’s highest representation. QS also said 41% of Indian institutions improved their positions that year.

The gains are most visible among the IITs and IISc. IIT Bombay moved from 149th in the QS 2024 ranking to 118th in 2025, while IIT Delhi became India’s highest-ranked institution in 2026 at 123rd. IIT Kanpur rose from 263rd to 222nd between the 2025 and 2026 editions.

THE also shows India’s growing representation. In its 2026 World University Rankings, India had the second-highest number of ranked universities globally, behind only the US. IISc Bengaluru was placed in the 201–250 band. However, most Indian institutions remain outside the top 200.

Management takes the express lane

The Financial Times rankings show a particularly strong improvement among Indian business schools.

Institution	FT 2021	FT 2026	Change
IIM Bangalore	45	21	Up 24 places
IIM Ahmedabad	25	27	Down 2 places
SPJIMR	39	26	Up 13 places
IIM Lucknow	79	42	Up 37 places

The comparison is based on the FT Masters in Management ranking. The latest FT ranking included 14 Indian programmes, with five in the global top 50. Indian schools performed well on salary growth, career progression, employer reputation and value for money. Their weaker area remains international diversity.

The picture across rankings is not uniform. India’s representation is expanding, its strongest institutions are moving up in selected tables, and its business schools are producing stronger career outcomes. But the improvement is concentrated in a relatively small group of institutions and subjects, especially engineering, science, technology and management.

The student calculation changes

The shift is also visible in how young Indians are thinking about overseas education.

The Emeritus Gen Z Outlook 2026 report surveyed 1,010 Indians aged 15 to 28 across major cities. Among respondents who were considering studying abroad, 48% said their interest had declined over the previous year.

Among those whose interest had fallen, 37% cited rising costs and 24% cited safety and political uncertainty. Among those who remained interested but had concerns, 40% identified cost as a main barrier and 32% pointed to visa and immigration policies.

The report found that India is increasingly being considered as a place to access international education. Some 68% of respondents said they would be likely or extremely likely to study with an international university operating in India. Nearly three in four believed that an India-based international programme could provide exposure to global teaching methods and high academic standards.

The preference was stronger among students closer to making an actual decision. Among respondents enrolled in undergraduate programmes or preparing for postgraduate study, 69% preferred an India-based international programme to going abroad specifically to avoid visa uncertainty.

Among those preparing for postgraduate study, 38% said an international programme based in India would be their first choice.

The findings suggest that overseas education remains part of the plan, but may come later in a student’s academic journey.

The foreign degree, now in instalments

That model can reduce the cost of several years abroad while preserving access to foreign qualifications, international networks and overseas employment opportunities.

The Cambridge Destination Survey 2025 also found strong interest in Indian universities. Among Indian schools surveyed, the share of domestic students applying to Indian universities stood at 56% in 2024, up from 52% in 2023 and 47% in 2022.

Cambridge identified improved domestic standards, affordability and flexibility as factors influencing student choices. The survey listed institutions such as Ashoka University, FLAME University, VIT, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, NMIMS, Christ University, O.P. Jindal Global University and the University of Mumbai among the preferred Indian institutions.

The likely pathway is becoming more flexible: study in India for three or four years, then pursue a master’s degree abroad; enrol in a foreign university’s India campus; or combine an India-based programme with a semester overseas.

Foreign universities are also responding to this demand. The Indian government says 14 foreign higher-education institutions have received letters of intent to establish campuses in India. Five universities from Australia and the UK have received approvals to set up offshore campuses in GIFT City.

Home first, abroad later

The Emeritus findings suggest that Indian students are not giving up on global education. They are becoming more selective about when, where and how they access it.

For some, that could mean completing an undergraduate degree in India before applying for a master’s programme abroad. Others may choose a foreign university’s India campus or a hybrid course that combines domestic study with overseas exposure.

The shift is not simply from foreign universities to Indian ones. It is a change in the order of choices: India first, the world later.

That gives Indian higher education a significant opportunity. Better rankings make domestic institutions more credible, while rising costs and immigration uncertainty make them more relevant. The next challenge is to ensure that this confidence extends beyond a small group of IITs, IISc and leading business schools.

India’s higher education moment has arrived just as the world turns inward. The country now has a chance to become not only a destination for its own students, but also the first step towards their global ambitions.